George H.W. Bush endorsing Mitt Romney

Former President George H.W. Bush will endorse Mitt Romney’s presidential candidacy, in another sign that the party’s establishment is coalescing around the former Massachusetts governor.

The Romney camp confirmed a report from the Associated Press that the 41st president would appear with Mr. Romney at an event Thursday in Houston and formally endorse him.

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The announcement comes after the former president’s wife, Barbara, did robo-calls on behalf of the candidate earlier this year and a week after former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, one of Mr. Bush’s sons, threw his support behind Mr. Romney, urging the party to rally behind him. There has been no word yet on whether former President George W. Bush will be doing the same.

Mr. Romney has gobbled up roughly half of the 1,144 delegates needed to seal up the nomination, according to the latest Wall Street Journal tally. He has 568 delegates, while former Sen. Rick Santorum claims 273 delegates, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has 135 delegates and Rep. Ron Paul of Texas has 50 delegates.